Member’s Corner takes a closer look at Dority International Alumni Association members. This month, September 2026, features Nnenna Helen John from Class of 2006.
Nnenna Helen John (Obianuka) is a lawyer, entrepreneur and emerging Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) professional whose career reflects continuous growth, reinvention and a willingness to evolve with the times.
After completing her secondary education at Dority, she proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, where she studied Law and graduated with an LLB in 2011.
She distinguished herself academically, emerging as the Best Graduating Foreign Student of the Faculty of Law for the 2010/2011 academic year. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012.
With over 14 years of experience in legal practice, Nnenna began her professional journey in litigation and dispute resolution, building a strong foundation in advocacy and legal practice.
Her professional experience includes facilitating international franchise arrangements involving Nigerian companies and multinational companies, advising on corporate and regulatory matters, and serving on the boards of corporate bodies.
Her litigation and dispute resolution practice has also included representing a portfolio of clients in EFCC-related matters, both in pursuing the recovery of funds and in defending clients involved in investigations and proceedings.
This aspect of her practice has, informally, earned her the nickname “Madam EFCC” among some of her clients and colleagues.
She has also embraced entrepreneurship, establishing Gold Pine Attorneys and Consultants, her private legal and consulting firm, through which she provides legal, corporate, regulatory and advisory services.
Currently, Nnenna serves as a Legal Officer with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), a Federal Government of Nigeria parastatal, giving her the unique perspective of having worked across both private legal practice and the public sector.
Beyond traditional legal practice, Nnenna has undertaken training in Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, and is now focused on Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) — an area where law, technology, regulation and organisational risk intersect.
From litigation to corporate law, from private practice to public service, from entrepreneurship to technology and GRC, Nnenna continues to explore new areas of knowledge and challenge herself to acquire skills beyond the boundaries of the legal profession.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as someone who, despite life’s hard knocks, has never allowed them to define or diminish me.
I have always chosen to see the possibilities in life, to press forward, and to remain conscious of the qualities and strength within me.
I am also someone who strives for excellence in whatever I do. I believe that my work should carry a distinctive mark of quality.
I like to put my own touch on what I do so that when you see the finished product, you can say, “Yes, Nnenna did this.”
I am intentional about showing up, making an impact and leaving a positive impression wherever I find myself. I suppose, in my own way, I like my presence to be felt without necessarily having to announce it.
What made you study Law in Ghana instead of Nigeria?
I had always wanted the experience of studying outside Nigeria, but as an only daughter, my parents were initially quite hesitant about sending me too far from home.
At the time, there were also frequent disruptions and strike actions in Nigerian universities.
Ghana therefore presented a very good middle ground: it gave me the opportunity to study outside Nigeria while still being relatively close to home and, importantly, offered the standard of education my parents wanted for me.
So, in many ways, studying in Ghana was a compromise between my desire for an international experience and my parents’ desire to keep their only daughter within reach.
You graduated as the Best Graduating Foreign Student of the Faculty of Law at KNUST. What did that achievement mean to you?
That achievement meant a great deal to me. It felt like a continuation of the academic excellence I had pursued throughout my education, from my early school years through secondary school.
I had always been very conscious of doing well academically, so going to Ghana and achieving that distinction was deeply fulfilling.
It was particularly meaningful because my father (may his soul rest in peace) used to remind me, rather dramatically, that the school fees he was paying for me in Ghana could probably pay the school fees of many students in Nigeria!
So, when I emerged as the Best Graduating Foreign Student, it was a very proud moment for both of us. My father was there to witness it, and he was incredibly happy and proud of me.
Looking back now, knowing that he was able to see that achievement and share that moment with me makes it even more precious.
For me personally, the achievement also reinforced something I had always believed about myself: that I had the capacity to excel, even when placed in a completely new environment.
It gave me greater confidence in my abilities and became a reminder that excellence is something I can carry with me wherever I go.
When you first chose Law, what kind of lawyer did you imagine you would become?
When I first chose law, I had the rather idealistic vision of becoming a lawyer who would fight for the downtrodden and champion justice for people who could not fight for themselves.
Interestingly, my actual career path took me somewhere somewhat different. I began my professional journey in litigation, which gave me valuable exposure to advocacy, dispute resolution and the realities of legal practice.
Along the way, however, I discovered that I had a natural affinity for corporate and commercial law, as well as legal drafting.
Corporate law had always intrigued me from my university and law school days. I found myself genuinely enjoying statutory legal frameworks and the structure behind businesses and transactions.
As for legal drafting, it came quite naturally to me. I have always enjoyed taking complex ideas, identifying the legal issues within them, and translating them into clear, precise and practical language.
I particularly enjoy the discipline of drafting because the choice of words matters, and a well-drafted document can anticipate issues, manage risks and provide clarity before a dispute ever arises.
So, while I initially imagined myself primarily as a courtroom advocate fighting individual battles for justice, my career has evolved into something broader.
I have found myself drawn to the intersection of law, business, regulation, governance and drafting — using the law not only to resolve disputes, but also to structure transactions, manage risk and create practical solutions.
At what point did you decide to establish Gold Pine Attorneys and Consultants?
I established Gold Pine Attorneys and Consultants in 2015, a few years after I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012.
For me, establishing my own firm was a natural extension of both my legal training and my entrepreneurial upbringing. I come from a family with a strong entrepreneurial background, so the idea of building something of my own was not entirely unfamiliar to me.
Having gained some practical experience, I began to appreciate that being a lawyer does not necessarily mean being confined to traditional paid employment.
The profession gives you the opportunity to build your own practice, develop your clientele, and create a professional identity around your strengths and interests.
Gold Pine has therefore been an important part of my journey towards greater independence as a legal practitioner and entrepreneur.
It has allowed me to grow professionally, explore different areas of legal practice, and build something that reflects both my legal expertise and my entrepreneurial instincts.
You currently serve as a Legal Officer with the Industrial Training Fund. What attracted you to public service?
My decision to move into public service was largely driven by curiosity and a desire for a broader professional experience.
Having spent most of my career in private practice, I wanted to understand how law operates from the public-sector perspective. I wanted to experience a different institutional environment, understand its processes and contribute my legal experience within that space.
In many ways, it has given me the opportunity to see the practice of law from another angle. I have been able to draw from my private-sector experience while learning how legal, regulatory and governance issues are approached within a public institution.
So, for me, the move was less about leaving one world for another and more about expanding my understanding of the profession by experiencing both sides.
Having worked in both private and public sectors, what important differences have you observed in how organisations in the two sectors approach law?
One of the clearest differences I have observed is the pace and structure within which legal issues are addressed.
Private-sector organisations generally operate in a highly competitive environment, so there is often a strong emphasis on speed, commercial outcomes, innovation and proactive problem-solving.
Legal advice is frequently expected to anticipate risks while also finding practical ways to facilitate the organisation’s objectives.
The public sector, on the other hand, operates within a more structured framework, with greater emphasis on due process, established procedures, accountability and institutional safeguards.
Decisions often have to pass through several layers of consideration because they affect public resources and broader public interests.
Neither environment operates without its challenges, but working in both has taught me that the lawyer’s role is ultimately about understanding the environment in which an organisation operates and providing advice that is both legally sound and practically useful.
What sparked your interest in cybersecurity and ethical hacking?
My interest in cybersecurity grew from my realisation that the legal profession is evolving alongside technology.
One of the areas that particularly opened my eyes was data privacy.
During one of my continuing legal education programmes with the Nigerian Bar Association, I took a course relating to data privacy, and it made me appreciate just how much the intersection between law and technology was going to shape the future of professional practice.
That prompted me to explore cybersecurity and ethical hacking. I became interested in understanding not just the legal and regulatory side of technology, but also some of the technical concepts behind cybersecurity.
It eventually led me towards Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), which feels like a natural intersection of many of the areas I already enjoy — law, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management and technology.
For me, it is another example of my belief that a professional career should not be static. I enjoy learning, acquiring new skills and finding ways to make seemingly different areas of expertise work together.
Looking back at your years at Dority, what memories or experiences have stayed with you?
One of the biggest things that has stayed with me from my years at Dority is the academic discipline.
Dority gave me a strong foundation in hard work, discipline, and the expectation that I should take my academics seriously. I carried that mindset with me to Ghana, and I believe it played a significant role in how I approached my studies at KNUST.
At the time, there was a perception among some people that Nigerian students studying in Ghana were predominantly children of wealthy or politically connected families who had gone there to enjoy a certain lifestyle.
I was determined, in my own little way, to challenge that perception and demonstrate that Nigerian students could distinguish themselves academically.
So, I showed up, worked hard, and let my academic performance speak for itself. Looking back, I see how much of that discipline has stayed with me.
It influences the way I approach my professional work today, particularly my emphasis on thoroughness, attention to detail, and ensuring that my work is well-considered and meets a high professional standard.
The environment may change, but the discipline, determination and desire to excel stay with you. Those are some of the values DISS gave me that I continue to carry today.
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